Grounding fitting



Oct. 3, 1933. J. T. PEARsoN GROUNDING FITTING Filed Aug. 9. 195oINVENTOR @M SL wat ATTORNEYS.

35 the ixed jaw, and wedge means interposed be- Patented Oct. 3, 1933TES f-UNITED sm GROUNDING r'IrTING John T. Pearson, Syracuse, N. Y.,assigner to Crouse-,Hinds Company, Syracuse, N.,Y., a corporation ofNew` York -Application Au'gusrt.Y 9, 1930. srial'No. 471,171

" sjclaims.Y (01.24751) This invention relates to grounding devices orconnectors Y for grounding an electric conduit system to a conductor, asa water pipe, andhas for its object, a connector or grounding devicewhich is particularly simple and economicalin construction, and highlyefcient and durable in usegand also a particularly simple andeilicientwedge means for operating the movable jaw of thegroundingdevice, Y

The' invention consists in thenovel features and in the combinationsandconstructions here-` inafter set forth and claimed. y

In describing this invention, reference is had to theaccompanyingdrawing in which like characters designate views. Y y l Figure 1 is alongitudinal, sectional view, partly in elevation, of this connectingdevice, the grounding conductor or water pipe, the conduit of anelectric conduit system, and the wires enclosed by the same, being alsoshown.

Figure 2 is a plan View of parts seen in Figure 1, other parts beingomitted. Y

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively, a front elevation, a plan view, anda side elevation of the body.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively, inverted face View, and edge view,and a rear elevation of the movable jaw.

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively, a side elevation, and a plan view ofthe wedge member.

This grounding device comprises generally, a body, a fixed jaw carriedby the body, a movable jaw also carried by the body and coacting withcorresponding parts in all the tween the body and the movable jaw foroperating the jaw.

1 designates the body which is in the general form of'a metal block, and2 is the xed jaw carried by the body, this being preferably in the formof a looped strap having its ends overlapping the upper and lower sidesof the body, and anchored thereto as by screws 3,;4.A The screw 3 Y.

threads through a single opening in one endl of lv the strap, and intothe body, and the screw 4 is n lateral displacement. The jaw is formedwith a V shaped face 6a for engaging the pipe P. The

jawY 6 Vis operated by wedgemeansinterposed v between it and thebody 1,and in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, thisr wedge meanscoacts with opposing faces 9 and 10- on the jaw `and the blockatopposite ends thereof, and the wedgelmeans moves between ythe saidopposing faces, one of said faces beinginclined so that the wedge acts'incline rplane fashionthereon.

The wedge means is here shownas'fdoubleg'or with'wedges at each end ofthe jaw and the body 1, and as illustrated, the wedgemeans is U shapedin general form with the arms 'of the' U` formingwedges 11 and theintermediate lpart,12,connecting the wedges. The ,U shaped wedge meansis thus arrangedastride the body' l and the intermediate part thereofpasses over one lof thebranches of thek loopf2` and is formed witharwork hole ',13 through which the screw Slis operable; The inA`termediate part 12 is alsoformed with openings for operating members orscrews .forthe wedge means. .Y 'IihereV are preferably, two ofsuchopenings designated 14. These openings` yl'lf'are inthe form of keyholeslots for receiving screws. 15 which extend through the slots and threadinto the block 1 on' opposite sides of the screw 3, the heads of thescrews 15 pressing against thegintermediate part 12 of the wedge meanson opposite sidesof the narrow portions of the keyhole slots.- Thelarger portions of the keyhole slots-are for the purpose of permittingthe bodily removal of the wedge means 12 without detaching thescrews 15unscrewed a certain amount without detaching, the wedge means can belifted far enough to per# mit it to be tilted and bring the Vlarger endsof therslots in line with the heads of the screws 15 so that the wedgecan be removed and replaced without completely detaching the screws 15.Y As the screws 15 are tightened, obviously the wedgeV member 11 willact'on the jaw 6 and thrust it outwardly, tightening the pipe P betweenthe loop 2 and the jaw 6. i i

The block or body V1 is also provided with an outwardly extending lug 16tc which a body 17 is secured, which body 17 is attached to an electricconduit C to be'grounded. The body 17 is shown .as a :dat plate or lugportion having a collar l18 for receiving the conduit C, and the body 17is secured to the lug 16 by aV clamping screw 19 extending through anopening 20 in the body 17 and from the block. After the screws 15 havebeen Y threading into the lug 16. The body 17, owing to the screw 197can be clamped Vtothe lug 16 in any one of a plurality of angularpositions. Theopening 20 is a slot in order to permit an in and outadjustment of the body 17 relatively to the body 1, or the lug 16.

21 is a wire housed by the conduit Cand having a terminal 22 which isbound or grounded to the body 17 through the screw 19.

In operation, the loop 2 is adjusted to the approximatev size of thepipe P, and then the screws 15 tightened causing the wedge members totightly clamp the jaw-6 against the pipe P thus mechani` cally andelectrically connecting the pipe to the body 1. The conduit C and thewire 21 thereinis secured and grounded to the lug 16 in any one of aplurality of angular positions by means ,of the` screws 19 whichconstitutes a swivel or pivotal joint between the bodies 1 and 17.

This grounding device is'particularly advan tageous in that it isreadily adjustable to different size pipes, and pipes of dierent sizescan be electrically and mechanically secured to the body 1. Owing to thewedge means, a particularly powerful and effective clamping action isprovided upon small movementoi av wedge. f l What In claim is: x 1'. Inavgrounding device, a body, axed jaw Acarried by the body, a movable jawcarried by the bodyand movable toward and from the xed jaw',r

mediate part of the loop strap, a wedge movable between the movable jawand the body, and means for operating the wedge. Y

3. A grounding device comprising a body, a

`nur n through the intermediatepart of the U formation and threadinginto the body.

4. A grounding device comprising a body in the form' of a block, a xedjaw carried by the body comprising, a strap anchored at its ends toopposite sides ofthe body forminga loop, a movable jaw within the loopand movable toward and froml the intermediate part of the loop, themovr' abley jaw and the body having opposing faces at their ends, a Ushaped wedge member arranged astride the body and one end of the strap,the Wedge member having its opposite branches coactingfwith saidopposing faces, means for operating the wedge member extending throughthe intermediate part thereof and threading into the body, thel bodyhaving a rearwardly extending stem, and a second body having meansforvconnection to a conduit, and means for securing the secondbody tothe lstem. l p

5. Ina grounding. device forelectrically and mechanically connectinganelectric conduit to a grounded conductor,` said device, Acomprising abody having means for attachmentto the elec. trical conduit, a fixed jawcarried by the body and having a portion engaging the conductor, asecond jaw extending transversely of. the body and movable from the bodytoward the conductor, a movable wedge coacting with the body andthemovable-jaw, and means for moving the wedge between the body and the jawto force the mov# able jaw in contact with the conductor.

f y. JOHN T. PEARSON.

